Furniture.



J. F. WALTON.

FURNlTURE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. I915.

Patented July 9, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET i.

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WITNESSLS:

1 By k M ATTORNEYS J. F. WALTON,

FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 20, 1915- 1,271,631, Patented July 9,1918.

3 SHEETSSHJEET 2.

WITNESSES:

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J. F. WALTON.

FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.20,1915.

1,271,637. Patented July 9, 1918..

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

uvmvme Jermaw 1: rm ra/v JEIRBOLD F. WALTON, OF ST'UBGI MICHIGAN,

FURNITURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed September 20, 1915. Serial No. 51,678.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnimonn F. WALTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sturgis, county of St. Joseph, State of hfichi 'an, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

Manufacturers of furniture, such as Morris chairs and the like, on account of the bulk of the chairs and the fine finish which requires careful wrapping and crating, find the cost of shipping to be a relatively large item in the cost of manufacture and distribution of the goods.

The main objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an improved furniture structure which may be shipped in the knockdown and easily assembled or set up by the retailer or user, and one which, when assembled, is very strong and rigid and well adapted to withstand the racking strains to which it is subjected in use without the opening or loosening of the joints.

Second, to provide in a structure having these advantages an improved foot rest support.

Third, to provide in a structure having these advantages an improved seat support.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description'to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a detail horizontal section of a chair embodying the features of my invention taken on a line corresponding to the broken line 11 of Fig. III, the foot rest being shown partially extended.

Fig. II is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 22 of Fig. I, with the foot rest retracted.

Fig. III is a detail perspective view showing the arrangement of the coupling members on the chair frame members.

Fig. IV is a detail horizontal section on :1 line corresponding to the broken line tt of Fig. III.

Fig. V is detail horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. II.

VI is a perspective view of one of the stud or male coupling members of the front rail or cross bar.

Fig; VII is a perspective view of one of the female or slotted coupling members mounted at the front ends of the side members or units.

Fig. VIII is a perspective View of one of the rear stud or male coupling members of the rear rail or cross bar.

Fig. IX is a perspective view of one of the female or slotted coupling members mounted at the rear end of the side members.

Fig. X is a plan view of the blank from which the coupling member shown in Fig. VI is formed.

Fig. XI is a plan view of the blank from which the coupling member shown in Fig. VII is formed.

Fig. XII is a blank from which the coupling member shown in Fig. VIII is formed.

Fig. XIII is a blank from which the coupling member shown in Fig. IX is formed.

Fig. XIV is a detail sectional view showing structural details of the mounting of the back adjusting mechanism.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, l1 represents the front legs and 2-2 the rear legs. The front and rear legs are connected in pairs by means of the side rails 3.

Arms are usually provided which also serve as connecting means for the front and rear legs, the arms not being shown in the accompanying drawing.

The side rails 3. are preferably provided with leg connecting dowels't. The front and rear legs with their connecting parts constitute side members or units and are assembled as such in the factory.

curing the front rail 5 and the near rail 6 with their ends abutting the legs. These coupling members for the front and rear rails are slightly different in form, but embody the same principle. The male coupling members are arranged on the inner side of the front rail 5 and secured thereto by means of screws, not shown, arranged through holes 8. The coupling members 7 are preferably provided with flange-like lugs 9 seated in kerf-like recesses 10 in the rails at the top of the coupling member, while the slots 1e are key hole slots. These slots are inclined so that when the studs are en gaged therein and the cross bars forced downwardly their ends are drawn tight against the legs. The coupling members 12 have inturned flange-like retaining lugs 15 seated in kerf-like recesses 16 in the legs. The coupling members 12 are clamped between the ends of the side rails 3 and the legs. The coupling members 7 have depending angle-shaped brackets 17 which are supported below the front rails to receive the channel shaped ways 18 of the foot rest. The male coupling members 19 for the rear rail are provided with studs 11 and have retaining flange-like lugs 9 engaged in kerflike recesses 10 in the rear rail 6 to which they are secured by means of screws, not shown, engaged in the screw holes 8. The coacti'ng female members 20 have slots 13 open at their upper edges to receive the studs 11. These coupling members 20 have flange-like retaining lugs 15 engaged in ker'f-like recesses in the rear legs 2.

The coupling member 19 has a bracketlike projection 21 adapted as a support for the rear end of the seat 23, the rear cross bar 24 of the seat frame being arranged to rest on this bracket, while its front bar 25 rests upon the front rail 5.

With the coupling members thus formed and attached the front and rear rails or cross bars can be quickly engaged with the side members of the chairs, which are, as stated, assembled in the factory, so that the chair may be shipped in the knockdown and readily set up by the dealer or user.

To prevent the cross bar being accidentally disengaged I preferably provide the male coupling members with diagonally disposed slots 26, while the female coupling members have holes 26 registering with the slots so that nails may be driven therethrough and through the slots into the cross bars, preventing the cross bars being raised.

The back 27 1s hinged on the inner sides of the rear legs and provided with an adjusting means comprising a supporting bar 28 extending from the front to the rear rail and secured thereto. The details of this back adjusting mechanism form no part of -my present invention and therefore are notillustrated or described herein. I preferably employ, however, the mechanism shown in n application, filed January 26, 1915, Seria No. 4,437.

' The control lever 29 for this adjusting mechanism is mounted on the outer end of the bar 30, which rests upon one of the ways 13 and is retained by the tongue 31 struck up from the way and folded over the bar, see Figs. III and XIV, the inner end of the bar being secured to the member 28.

The foot rest comprises a pair of support bars 32 slidably mounted in the ways 18 and connected by the cross piece 33 at their front ends. The foot board 34: is mounted on the bars 32 by the swinging bail-shaped arms 35. As these details form no part of my present invention I do not further illustrate or describe the same herein.

My improvements are so economical to produce and so. satisfactory that they are of advantage to use even where the articlesare to be assembled in the factory, although I have especially designed the same for use where the structures are to be shipped in the knockdown.

In practice I prefer, as stated, to assemble the front and rear legs and their connecting cross rails in the factory as units. The back and the seat are also assembled as units. I also preferably mount the foot rest and the back adjusting mechanism upon the front and rear rails in the factory and secure.

With the parts so assembled, in setting up the chair it is only necessary to connect the side members by means of the cross rails, the coupling members permitting this being done very easily and quickly, and at the same time the joints are strong and secure. The back is readily mounted on its hinges and connected with its adjusting mechanism and the seat placed upon its support.

My improved chair is rigid and strong and the joints are not likely to open or become weakened by use.

I have illustrated and described my improvements as I have applied them to chairs, they are, however, readily adapted for use in other articles of furniture.

I have not illustrated various adaptations possible as I believe the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to which my invention relates to embody or adapt the same as conditions may require.

I desire, however, to be understood as claiming my improvements specifically in the form illustrated as well as broadly within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I

l. A structure of the class described, com prising a corner member, a pair of side members disposed at an angle to each other with their ends abutting said corner memher, a plate-like male coupling member provided with a stud and having a rearwardly projecting flange-like lug, said coupling member being secured to one of said side members with its said lug seated in a vertical kerf-like recess therein, and a coacting' plate-like female coupling member having an inclined stud engaging slot therein, clamped between said corner member and the end of the other side member and having a flange-like lug disposed in a vertical kerf-likerecess in said corner member.

2. A structure of the class described, comprising a corner member, a pair of side members disposedat an angle to each other with their ends abutting said corner member, a coupling member provided with a bracket, secured on the inner side of one of said side members, and a coacting coupling member clamped between said corner member and the end of the other side member and. having a lug disposed in a recess in said corner member, said coupling members having co-engaging stud and slot.

3. A structure of the class described, comprising a corner member, a pair of side members disposed at an angle to each other with their ends abutting said corner member, a male coupling member provided with a stud and secured to the inner side of one of said side members, and a coacting female coupling member having an inclined stud engaging slot therein, clamped between said corner member and the end of the other side member and having a lug disposed in a recess in said corner member.

4. A structure of the class described, comprising a corner member, a pair of side members disposed at an angle to each other with their ends abutting said corner member, a coupling member secured on the inner side of one of said side members, and a coacting coupling member clamped between said corner member and the end of the other side member, one of said coupling members being provided with a stud and the other with a slot adapted to receive the stud.

5. A structure of the class described, comprising a corner member, a pair of side members disposed at an angle to each other with their ends abutting said corner member, a coupling member provided with a bracket, secured on the inner side of one of said side members, and a coacting coupling member connected to said corner member and the other side member, one of said coupling members being provided with a stud and the other with a slot adapted to receive the stud.

6. A structure of'the class described, comprising a pair of abutting parts to be joined, and plate-like coupling members secured to theparts to be joined and having rearwardly projecting flange-like lugs disposed in kerf-like recesses in said parts to be joined, one of said coupling members being provided with a stud and the other with an inclined slot adapted to receive said stud, the inner of said coupling members having an inclined slot therein and the outer a registering hole through which a fastening may be inserted after the parts are assembled. to prevent disengagement thereof.

7 A structure of the class described, comprising a leg and a side rail, and a pair of plate-like coupling members secured to said leg and side rail, one of said coupling members being provided with a stud and the other with an inclined slot adapted to receive the stud, the coupling member secured to said side rail being provided with a projecting support member.

8. In a chair, the combination of front and rear legs, side rails connecting the front and rear legs in pairs, front and rear rails a'butting said legs, plate-like male coupling members having outwardly projecting headed studs and inwardly projecting flange-like lugs, secured to the inner sides of said front and rear rails with their said lugs seated in vertical kerf-like recesses therein, said coupling members being provided with project'- ing brackets, the brackets of the coupling members mounted on the front rail bein angle-shaped and depending below the front rail and constituting foot rest supports, the brackets of the coupling members mounted on the rear rail constituting seat supports, platelike female coupling members having inclined stud engaging slots therein, said female coupling members being clamped between said legs and the ends of the side rails and having flange-like lugs disposed in vertical kerf-like recesses in said legs, a foot rest comprising ways mounted on said rear rail and on said depending brackets of said coupling members mounted on said front rail, and a seat disposed with its rear end on said brackets on said coupling members mounted on said rear rail.

9. In a chair, the combination of side members comprising legs and connecting side rails secured. together as a unit, front and rear rails abutting said legs, male coupling members having outwardly projecting headed studs and inwardly projecting lugs, secured to the inner sides of said front and rear rails with their said lugs seated in recesses therein, said coupling members being provided with projecting bracket members, the brackets of the coupling members mounted on the front rail constituting foot rest supports, the bracket of the coupling members mounted on the rear rail constituting seat supports, female coupling members having stud engaging slots therein, said female coupling members being clamped between said legs and the ends of the side rails and having lugs disposed in recesses in said legs, a foot rest mounted on said brackets of said coupling members mounted on said front rail, and a seat disposed with its rear end on said brackets of said coupling members mounted on said rear rail.

10. In a chair, the combination of side members comprising legs and connecting side rails secured together as a unit, front and rear ails abutting said legs, male coupling members having outwardly projecting headed studs and inwardly projecting lugs, secured to the inner sides of said front and rear rails with their said lugs seated in recesses therein, said coupling members being provided with projecting bracket members, the brackets of the coupling members mounted on the front rail constituting foot rest supports, the bracket of the coupling members mounted on the rear rail constituting seat supports, female coupling members having stud engaging slots therein, said female coupling members being clamped. between said legs and the ends of the side rails and having lugs disposed in recesses in said legs.

11. In a chair, the combination of front and rear legs, side rails connecting the front and rear legs in pairs, front and rear rails abutting said legs, male coupling members having outwardly projecting headed studs and inwardly projecting retaining lugs, secured to the inner sides of said front and rear rails with their said lugs seated in ver tical kerf-like recesses therein, the coupling members mounted on the front rail being provided with brackets constituting foot rest supports, female coupling members having inclined stud engaging slots therein, said female coupling members being clamped between said legs and the ends of the side rails and having retaining lugs disposed in vertical kerf-like recesses in said legs, and a foot rest comprising ways mounted on said brackets.

12. In a chair, the combination of front and rear legs, side rails connecting the front and rear legs in pairs, front and rear rails abutting said legs, male coupling members having outwardly projecting headed tuds and inwardly projecting retaining lugs, secured to the inner sides of said front and rear rails with their said lugs seated in recesses therein, the coupling members mounted on the rear ail being provided with brackets constituting a seat support, female coupling members having inclined stud engaging slots therein, said female coupling members being clamped between said legs and the ends of the side rails and having retaining lugs disposed in recesses in said legs, and a seat disposed with its rear end on said brackets.

13. In a chair, the combination of front and rear legs, side rails connecting the front and rear legs in pairs, front and rear rails abutting said legs, plate like male coupling members having outwardly projecting headed studs and inwardly projecting retaining lugs secured to the inner sides of said front and rear rails with their said lugs seated in recesses therein, and female coupling members having inclined stud engaging slots therein, said female coupling members being clamped between said legs and the ends of the side ails and having retaining lugs disposed in recesses in said legs, said male coupling members having inclined slots therein, said female coupling members having registering holes therein registering with said slots and through which fasten-v ings may be inserted after the parts are assembled to prevent disengagement thereof.

14. In a chair, the combination of side members comprising legs and connecting side rails secured together as a unit, front and rear rails, coupling members provided with projecting brackets secured to the front and rear rails, the brackets of the coupling member mounted on the front rail constituting foot rest supports, the brackets of the coupling member mounted on the rear rail constituting seat supports, and coacting coupling members on said side members, one coupling member of each pair being provided with an inclined slot and the other with a slot engaging stud.

15. In a chair, the combination of side members comprising legs and connecting side rails secured together as a unit, front and rear rails, coupling members secured to said front and rear rails, the coupling member secured to the front rail being provided with depending angle-shaped brackets constituting a foot rest, coacting coupling members on said side members, and a foot rest comprising foot rest ways mounted on said brackets.

16. In a chair, the combination of side members comprising legs and connecting side rails secured together as a unit, front and rear rails, coupling members on said front and rear rails, the coupling members mounted on the rear rails being provided with seat supporting brackets, coacting coupling members on said side members, and a seat disposed with its rear end on said brackets.

17. In a chair, the combination of side members. comprising legs and connecting rails secured together as a unit, cross rails, coupling members having retaining lugs se cured to said cross rails with their said lugs seated in recesses therein, and coupling members clamped'between said legs and the ends of the said rails connected thereto and having retaining lugs disposed in recesses in said legs, said coupling members having co-engaging studs and slots.

18. In a chair, the combination of side members comprising legs and connecting rails secured together as a unit, cross rails, coupling members having headed studs thereon secured to said cross rails, and coacting coupling members having inclined stud engaging slots therein clamped between said legs and ends of their said connecting rails and having retaining lugs disposed in recesses in said legs.

19. In a chair, the combination of side members comprising legs and connecting rails secured together as a unit, cross rails, coupling members clamped between said legs and the ends of their said connecting rails to project therefrom and having retaining lugs disposed in recesses in said legs, and coacting coupling members con nected to said cross rails.

20. In a chair, the combination of side members comprising legs and connecting rails secured together as a unit, cross rails, coupling members clamped between said legs and the ends of their said connecting rails to project therefrom, and coacting coupling members connected to said cross rails.

21. In a chair, the combination of side members comprising legs and connecting side rails secured together as a unit, front and rear rails, coupling members clamped between the ends of the connecting rails and legs and provided With retaining lugs engaged in recesses in said legs, and means for connecting said coupling members to the front and rear rails.

22. In a chair, the combination of side members comprising legs and connecting side rails secured together as a unit, front and rear rails, coupling members clamped between the ends of the connecting rails and legs, and means for connecting said coupling members to the front and rear rails.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

J ERROLD F. WALTON.

Copies of this patent may,be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

